Water leak in helmet ends spacewalk

Wednesday

Jul 17, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 17, 2013 at 12:42 PM

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In one of the most-harrowing spacewalks in decades, an astronaut had to rush back into the International Space Station yesterday after a mysterious water leak inside his helmet robbed him of the ability to speak or hear and could have caused him to choke or even drown.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — In one of the most-harrowing spacewalks in decades, an astronaut had to rush back into the International Space Station yesterday after a mysterious water leak inside his helmet robbed him of the ability to speak or hear and could have caused him to choke or even drown.

Italian Luca Parmitano was reported to be fine after the incident, which might have been caused by a leak in the cooling system of his suit.His spacewalking partner, American Christopher Cassidy, had to help him inside after NASA quickly aborted the spacewalk.

In a news conference, space-station operations manager Kenneth Todd promised to “turn over every rock” to make sure it never happens again.

The two astronauts were outside barely an hour, performing routine cable work on their second spacewalk in eight days, when Parmitano reported the leak. It worsened as the minutes ticked by, drenching the back of his head, then his eyes, nose and, finally, mouth.

Between 1 and 1 1/2 liters of water leaked into his helmet and suit, NASA estimated.

The source of the leak wasn’t immediately known, but the main culprit appeared to be iodine-laced water that, for cooling, is piped through the long underwear worn under a spacesuit. The system holds nearly 4 liters, or 1 gallon. Less likely was the 32-ounce drink bag that astronauts sip from during lengthy spacewalks; Parmitano reported that the leaking water tasted odd.

At first, Parmitano, 36, a former test pilot and Italy’s first spacewalker, thought it was sweat accumulating on the back of his bald head. But he repeatedly was assured that it was not sweat.

It was only his second spacewalk; his first was on July 9, six weeks after moving into the space station.

The water eventually got into Parmitano’s eyes. That’s when NASA ordered the two men back inside. Then the water drenched his nose and mouth, and he had trouble hearing on the radio lines.

The three Russians and one American in the station hustled to remove Parmitano’s helmet once he was back inside.

Parmitano blinked hard several times but otherwise looked fine as he gestured to show his crewmates where the water had crept around his head.

Cassidy told Mission Control: “To him, the water clearly did not taste like our normal drinking water.” A smiling Parmitano then chimed in: “Just so you know, I’m alive, and I can answer those questions, too.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.